Ionian Weather & Wind Conditions: Seasonal Guide

Why the Ionian is Different

The Ionian Sea is sheltered by mainland Greece to the east. This protection creates dramatically different conditions from the Aegean:

Ionian (west coast):

• Gentle Force 2-5 winds
• Sheltered, calm waters
• Perfect for beginners

Aegean (east coast):

• Strong Meltemi winds Force 5-7+
• Choppy seas
• Challenging for experienced sailors

If you’re new to sailing or prefer relaxed cruising, the Ionian is the right choice.

Prevailing Winds

Summer pattern (June-September):

• Maestro (NW wind): Most common, Force 2-5
• Builds during late morning (10:00-11:00)
• Peaks early afternoon (14:00-16:00)
• Dies down at sunset
• Light or calm at night

Typical summer day:

• 07:00-10:00: Light winds or calm (motor if needed)
• 10:00-17:00: NW Force 3-5, perfect sailing
• 17:00-20:00: Winds ease to Force 2-3
• Night: Calm or very light

Monthly Breakdown

April

• Winds: Variable, Force 2-4, can be unsettled
• Weather: Mix of sunshine and occasional rain
• Water temp: 16-18°C (chilly for swimming)
• Conditions: Quietest month, great value, but less predictable weather
• Best for: Experienced sailors comfortable with variable conditions

May

• Winds: Building NW pattern, Force 2-4
• Weather: Warm, mostly sunny, occasional showers
• Water temp: 19-21°C (refreshing swimming)
• Conditions: Excellent for sailing, quieter anchorages
• Best for: Sailors wanting peace and value

June

• Winds: Established Maestro, Force 3-5
• Weather: Warm and sunny, rare rain
• Water temp: 22-24°C (comfortable swimming)
• Conditions: Perfect, not yet crowded
• Best for: Everyone — sweet spot month

July

• Winds: Reliable Maestro, Force 4-5
• Weather: Hot and sunny, almost no rain
• Water temp: 24-26°C (bath-like)
• Conditions: Busy anchorages, strong winds perfect for sailing
• Best for: Experienced sailors, families wanting guaranteed weather

August

• Winds: Strong Maestro, Force 4-6, occasionally Force 7
• Weather: Very hot, dry, sunny
• Water temp: 25-27°C (warmest of the year)
• Conditions: Busiest month, strongest winds
• Best for: Confident sailors, those who don’t mind crowds

September

• Winds: Easing Maestro, Force 3-4
• Weather: Warm, mostly sunny, occasional showers return
• Water temp: 23-25°C (still warm)
• Conditions: Quieter anchorages, still reliable weather
• Best for: Everyone — second sweet spot month

October

• Winds: Variable, Force 2-4
• Weather: Warm but more rain than summer
• Water temp: 20-22°C (refreshing)
• Conditions: Very quiet, good value, less predictable
• Best for: Experienced sailors, bargain hunters

No Meltemi Here

The Meltemi is a strong northerly wind that dominates the Aegean Sea in summer (Force 6-8, sometimes more). It makes Aegean sailing challenging from July to September.

Good news: The Meltemi does NOT affect the Ionian. You’re sheltered by mainland Greece.

Why this matters: While Aegean sailors are battling Force 7-8 winds and canceling plans, you’ll be enjoying gentle Force 3-5 breezes in the Ionian.

Rare Weather Events

Summer thunderstorms:

• Rare in July-August
• More common in June and September
• Usually late afternoon/evening
• Approach from mountains to the east
• Short-lived (30-60 minutes)

Signs of approaching storm:

• Towering clouds over mainland mountains
• Drop in temperature
• Change in wind direction
• Increasing wind strength

Action: Head to sheltered anchorage, ensure good anchor holding, close hatches.

Sirocco (south wind):

• Rare in summer
• More common in spring and autumn
• Brings warm, humid air from Africa
• Usually lasts 1-3 days
• Can create uncomfortable swell in exposed southern anchorages

Sea State

Typical summer conditions:

• Force 2-3: Calm to slight sea, 0.3-0.5m waves
• Force 4-5: Moderate sea, 0.5-1.5m waves
• Force 6+: Rough sea (rare in Ionian summer)

Sheltered areas (calm even in Force 5 winds):

• East coast of Lefkada
• Meganisi
• Kalamos and Kastos
• Inland bays of Ithaca

More exposed (avoid in Force 6+ winds):

• Southern tip of Lefkada
• West coast of Kefalonia
• Open passages between islands

Weather Forecasting

Sources before departure:

• Marina office (daily printed forecasts)
• Poseidon.hcmr.gr (Hellenic Centre for Marine Research)
• Windy.com (excellent visual forecasts)
• PredictWind (detailed wind predictions)

VHF weather broadcasts:

• Channel 16, 08:00, 14:00, 20:00 local time
• Greek Coastguard issues warnings
• Covers Ionian Sea area

Onboard observations:

• Barometer trend (falling = deteriorating weather)
• Cloud formations (towering cumulus = possible thunderstorms)
• Wind strength and direction changes

Best Weather Windows

For passage making:

• Morning (07:00-10:00): Light winds, flat seas, calm conditions
• Early afternoon (10:00-14:00): Building winds but still moderate

For anchoring/docking:

• Late afternoon (17:00-19:00): Winds easing, easier maneuvering

For swimming:

• Anytime! Water is warm May-October

Season Summary

Month	Winds	Crowds	Value	Verdict
April	Variable F2-4	Very quiet	Excellent	For experienced only
May	Building F2-4	Quiet	Excellent	Superb month
June	Maestro F3-5	Moderate	Good	Perfect balance
July	Strong F4-5	Busy	Fair	Great sailing, busy
August	Strong F4-6	Very busy	Fair	Strongest winds, crowds
September	Easing F3-4	Moderate	Good	Excellent month
October	Variable F2-4	Quiet	Excellent	Good for experienced

Our recommendation: June or September for the best balance of weather, crowds, and value.

For beginners: May, June, or September. Avoid August (too strong winds, too busy).

For experienced sailors: Any month May-October works. April and October offer great value if you’re flexible.